Dispensing closure with slide



1966 J. M. AMBURGEY DISPENSING CLOSURE WITH SLIDE Filed Dec. 8, 1964NIH,

JAMES MILTON AMBURGEY INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,294,294 DISPENSING CLGSURE WITH SLIDEJames Milton Amburgey, Kendall Park, NJ., assignor to Colgate-PalmoliveCompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8, 1964,Ser. No. 416,689 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-525) This invention relates to a capcapable of being attached to a container for dispensing liquid. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a push-pull cap which does notimpede the flow of liquid from a container.

Broadly, this invention contemplates a dispensing closure for acontainer capable of holding a liquid and comprising an elastomericplastic top wall having an upwardly extending projection defining apassage extending through said extension and top wall, a stirrup havingtwo diametrically positioned narrow arms connected at one end to the topwall adjacent the inner end of said passage and at the other end to across piece, a plug on said cross piece axially aligned with andextending toward said passage, an elastomeric plastic slider slidablymounted in said passage in fluid-tight relation thereto, said sliderhaying therethrough a discharge channel adapted to mate with and beclosed by said plug when said slider is positioned thereon, anenlargement on said slider at the outer end thereof to facilitate movingit outwardly off said plug and cooperative means in said passage and onthe slider to limit normal outward movement of the slider after theinner end thereof is slid clear of said plug.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cap embodying an invention:

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the line 22 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

The cap comprises a side wall 4 and a top Wall 6. Depending from the topwall is a stirrup, generally indicated as 8. This stirrup 8 has twodiametrically positioned narrow arms 10 and 12, which are attached tothe top wall 6. A cross piece 20 is connected to the end of each armremote from the top wall 6. A plug 22 is intermediate to, and attachedto, the cross piece 20 and extends upward toward the top wall 6.

The top wall 6 includes an upwardly extending projection or sleeve 24which defines a passage through the top wall 6 and sleeve 24. Thepassage is axially aligned with the plug 22. An elastomeric plasticslider 26 havinig a discharge channel 28 therethrough is slidablydisposed within the passage of the sleeve 24 in a fluid-tight manner.The discharge channel 28 of the slider '26 is axially aligned with andis capable of receiving in a fluid-tight manner the plug 22, so thatwhen the slider is pushed down, the plug 22 will project, in afluid-tight manner, into the discharge channel 28 of the slider 26 andwill thus seal off said channel 28 from a container.

The slider 26 includes a rim 30 which cooperates with the shoulder 32 ofthe sleeve 24 to serve as a cooperative stoppiing means to limit thenormal outward movement of the slider 26 after the slider 26 is clear ofthe plug 22.

The end of the slider 26 opposite the plug has a concave enlargement 40which serves to limit the amount of drippage from the container afterproduct has been discharged therefrom and after the container isreturned to an upright position.

In order to assure a fluid-tight fit between the slider 26 and the plug22, as well as the slider 26 and the sleeve 24, the clearance betweensaid slider 26 and said sleeve 24, as well as said slider 26 and saidplug 22, at the point-of contact of each with the slider is from about0.003 to about 0.006 inch.

The cap includes a ring 42 which depends from the top -wall 6 andsurrounds the stirrup 8. This ring 42 is flexible and is capable ofbeing deformed to eflect a seal between the cap and a container when thecap is attached thereto.

The clearance between the ring 42 and any part of the stirrup 8 is atleast 0.002 inch so that when the cap is attached to the container thering 42 will deform to provide said seal without contacting the stirrup8. In this manner, there is .no possibility that the ring 42 will putpressure on the stirrup 8 and deform it thereby disturbing the alignmentof the plug 22 with the discharge channel 28.

In order to provide the stirrup 8 with the desired strength andflexibility, the narrow arms 10 and 12 have a wall thickness of at least0.09 inch and the cross piece 20 has a wall thickness of at least 0.14inch.

The cap 2 may be attached to a container in any suitable manner andpreferably by providing threads 44 on the inside surface of the sidewall to mate with external threads on the bottleneck (not shown) of acontainer.

The cap may be molded in any suitable manner, such as by injectionmolding. It is preferable that the cap be manufactured from polyethylenehaving a density of from about 0.920 to about 0.940 because it has beenfound that polyethylene havinig a density within such a range provides acap with the necessary flexibility and allows for the necessaryslidability. However, the cap may also be molded from other materialswhich have a suitable flexibility and allow the necessary slidability.

When it is desired to dispense product from the container to which thecap is attached, the concave enlargement 40 is grasped and pulled upuntil the rim 30 of the slider 26 contacts the shoulder 32 of the sleeve24. In this manner, the slider 26 is disengaged from the plug 22, asshown in FIGURE 2, without removing the slider 26 from the cap '27. Thebottle is then tilted so that liquid may freely flow through thedischarge channel 28 and be dispensed at the outer,vconcave-shapedenlargement 40 of the slider 26. After the desired amount of liquid hasbeen dispensed, the container is returned to an upright position and theslider 26 is pushed down, thereby causing the plug 22 to enter thedischarge channel 28 of the slider 26 (FIGURE 4) in a fluid-tight mannerand prevent undesired discharge of contents of the container regardlessof the angle at which the bottle is held.

It has been found that the aforedescribed cap is particularlyadvantageous in that the structure of the stirrup and surrounding areadoes not impede the flow of liquid from a container. This isparticularly advantageous when such a cap is used in conjunction with acontainer which holds a fairly viscous liquid which is to be dispensed.

While this invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, the invention is not to be construed as limited except asset forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andcomprising an elastometric plastic top wall having an upwardly extendingprojection defining a passage extending through said extension and topwall, a stirrup having two diametrically positioned downwardly extendingnarrow arms connected at one end to the top wall adjacent to the innerend of said passage and at the other end to a cross piece, each of saidnarrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum total of saidsegments being less than a plug on said cross piece axially aligned withand extending toward said passage, an elastomeric plastic sliderslidably mounted in said passage in fluid-tight relation thereto, saidslider having therethrough a discharge channel adapted to mate with andbe .closed at its inner end by said plug when said slider is positionedthereon, an enlargement on said slider at the outer end thereof tofacilitate moving it outwardly off said plug, and cooperative means insaid passage and on the slider to limit normal outward movement of theslider after the inner end thereof is slid clear of said plug.

2. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck comprising a molded elastomericplastic cap having a cylindrical wall and a top wall, internal threadsin said cylindrical wall adapted to fit the external threads on thecontainer neck, said top wall having an upwardly extending centralprojection defining a passage extending through said projection and topwall, a stirrup having two diametrically positioned downwardly extendingnarrow arms connected at one end to the top wall adjacent to the innerend of said passage and at the other end to a cross piece, each of saidnarrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum total of saidsegments being less than 180, a plug on said cross piece axially alignedwith and extending toward said passage, an elastomeric plastic sliderslida-bly mounted in said passage in fluid-tight relation thereto, saidslider having therethrough a discharge channel adapted to mate with andbe closed at its inner end by said plug when said slider is positionedthereon, an enlargement on said slider at the outer end thereof tofacilitate moving it outwardly off said plug and cooperative means insaid passage and on the slider to limit normal outward movement of theslider after the inner end thereof is slid clear of said plug.

3. A dispensing'closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck portion comprising a moldedelastomeric plastic cap having a cylindrical wall, a top Wall connectedto said cylindrical wall and internal threads in said cylindrical walladapted to fit the external threads on a container neck, said top wallhaving an upwardly extending sleeve, the inner wall of said sleevedefining a passage extending through said sleeve and top wall, anelastomeric plastic slider disposed in said passage and havingadischarge channel therethrough, said top wall having a flexible annularsealing ring depending therefrom and adapted to seal said neck portion,a stirrup having two diametrically positioned narrow arms connected atone end to the top wall and at the other end to a cross piece, each ofsaid narrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum total of saidsegments constituting a minor portion thereof, a plug on said crosspiece axially aligned with and extending toward said passage, said plugbeing concentric to said arms, said plug being adapted to mate wit-hsaid slider in fluid-tight relationship and cooperative means in saidpassage and on said slider to limit normal outward movement of saidslider when said slider is free of said plug, whereby when said slideris lowered upon said plug, said plug is in fluid tight relation withsaid plastic slider and the dispensing of fluid contents from saidcontainer is prevented.

4. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck portion comprising a moldedelastomeric plastic cap having a cylindrical wall, a top wall connectedto said cylindrical wall and internal threads in said cylindrical walladapted to fit the external threads on a container neck, said top wallhaving an upward-1y extending sleeve, the inner wall of said sleevedefining a passage extending through said sleeve and top wall, anelastomeric plastic slider disposed in said passage and having adischarge channel therethrough, said slider having a concave enlargementat its outer end to limit the amount of drippage from the containerafter product is discharged therefrom and the container is returned toan upright position, said slider having a rim adjacent its inner end andon its outer wall, said sleeve having a shoulder on its inner wall, saidshoulder and rim cooperatively limiting normal outward movement of saidslider to prevent displacement of said slider from said cap, said topwall having a flexible annular sealing ring depending therefrom, astirrup having two diametrically positioned narrow arms connected at oneend to the top wall and at the other end to a cross piece, each of saidnarrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum total of saidsegments constituting a minor portion thereof, a plug on said crosspiece axially aligned with and extending toward said passage, said plugbeing concentric to said arms, said plug being adapted to mate with saidslider in fluid-tight relationship whereby when said slider is loweredupon said plug, said plug is in fluidtight relationship with saidplastic slider and the dispensing of fluid contents from said containeris prevented.

5. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck portion comprising a moldedelastomeric plastic cap having a cylindrical wall, a top wall connectedto said cylindrical wall and internal threads in said cylindrical walladapted to fit the external threads on a container neck, said top wallhaving an upwardly extending sleeve, the inner wall of said sleevedefining a passage extending through said sleeve and top wall, anelastomeric plastic slider disposed in said passage and having adischarge channel therethrough, said slider having a concave enlargementat its outer end to limit the amount of drippage from the containerafter product is discharged therefrom and the container is returned toan upright position, said slider having a rim adjacent its inner end andon its outer wall, said sleeve having a shoulder on its inner wall, saidshoulder and rim cooperatively limiting normal outward movement of saidslider to prevent displacement of said slider from said cap, said topwall having a flexible annular sealing ring depending therefrom, astirrup having two diametrically positioned narrow arms of at least0.09-inch wall thickness con nected at one end to the top wall and atthe other end to a cross piece of at least 0.14-inch wall thickness,each of said narrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum totalof said segments constituting a minor portion thereof, a plug on saidcross piece axially aligned with and extending toward said passage, saidplug being concentric to said arms, the difference between the lesserdiameter of said plug and the diameter of said inner wall of said sliderbeing from about 0.003 inch to about 0.006 inch, whereby when saidslider is lowered upon said plug, said plug is in fluid-tight relationwith said plastic slider and the dispensing of fluid contents from saidcontainer is prevented.

6. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck portion comprising a moldedelastomeric plastic cap having a cylindrical wall, a top wall connectedto said cylindrical wall and internal threads on said cylindrical walladapted to fit the external threads on a container neck, said top wallhaving an upwardly extending sleeve, the inner wall of said sleevedefining a passage extending through said sleeve and top wall, anelastomeric plastic slider disposed in said passage and having adischarge channel therethrough, said slider having a concave enlargementat its outer end to limit the amount of drippage from the containerafter product is discharged therefrom and the container is returned toan upright position, said slider having a rim adjacent its inner end andon its outer wall, said sleeve having a shoulder on its inner wall, saidshoulder and rim cooperatively limiting normal outward movement of saidslider to prevent displacement of said slider from said cap, said topwall having a flexible annular sealing ring depending therefrom, astirrup spaced from said sealing ring by a distance of at least 0.002inch on all sides thereof and having two diametrically positioned narrowarms of at least 0.09-inch wall thickness connected at one end to thetop wall and at the other end to a cross piece of at least 0.14-inchwall thickness, each of said narrow arms defining a segment of anannulus, the sum total of said segments constituting a minor portionthereof, a plug on said cross piece axially aligned with and extendingtoward said passage, said plug Ibeing concentric to said arms, thedifference between the lesser diameter of said plug and the diameter ofsaid inner wall of said slider being from about 0.003 each to about0.006 inch, whereby when said slider is lowered upon said plug, saidplug is in fluid-tight relation with said plastic slider and thedispensing of fluid contents from said container is prevented.

7. A dispensing closure for a container capable of holding a liquid andhaving an externally threaded neck portion comprising a moldedelastorneric plastic cap having a cylindrical wall, a top wall connectedto said cylindrical wall and internal threads on said cylindrical walladapted to fit the external threads on a container neck, said top Wallhaving an upwardly extending sleeve, the inner wall of said sleevedefining a passage extending through said sleeve and top wall, anelastomeric .plastic slider disposed in said passage and having adischarge channel therethrough, the outer wall of said slider lbeingspaced from the inner Wall of said sleeve by a distance of from about0.003 inch to about 0.006 inch to assure a fluid-tight slidable fit ofsaid slider in said passage, said slider having a concave enlargement atits outer end to limit the amount of drippage from the container afterproduct is discharged therefrom and the container is returned to anupright position, said slider having a rim adjacent its inner end and onits outer Wall, said sleeve having a shoulder on its inner wall, saidshoulder and rim cooperatively limiting normal outward movement of saidslider to prevent displacement of said slider from said cap, said topwall having a flexible annular sealing ring depending therefrom, astirrup spaced from said sealing ring by a distance of at least 0.002inch on all sides thereof and having two diametrically positioned narrowarms of at least 0.09-inch wall thickness connected at one end to thetop wall adjacent to the inner end of said passage and at the other endto a cross piece of at least 0.14-inch wall thickness, each of saidnarrow arms defining a segment of an annulus, the sum total of saidsegments constituting a minor portion thereof, a plug on said crosspiece axially aligned with and extending toward said passage, said plugbeing concentric to said arms, the difference between the diameter ofsaid plug and the diameter of said inner wall of said slider being fromabout 0.003 inch to about 0.006 inch, whereby when said slider islowered upon said plug, said plug is in fluid-tight relation with saidplastic slider and the dispensing of fluid? contents from said containeris prevented.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,463 7/1916McNutt 222-108 1,192,068 7/1916 Kehuewa 222520 2,152,001 3/1939 Temple222546 X 2,823,837 2/ 1958 Heinle 222546 2,936,935 5/1960 Rabb 222-5252,969,168 1/1961 Newrby 222-525 3,079,048 2/1963 Wolfson et a1. 2221083,157,323 11/1964 Kitterman 222520 3,201,013 9/1965 Porter et al. 222525ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner.

H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER CAPABLE OF HOLDING A LIQUID ANDCOMPRISING AN ELASTOMETRIC PLASTIC TOP WALL HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDINGPROJECTION DEFINING A PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID EXTENTION AND TOPWALL, A STIRRUP HAVING TWO DIAMETRICALLY POSITIONED DOWNWARDLY EXTENDINGNARROW ARMS CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE TOP WALL ADJACENT TO THE INNEREND OF SAID PASSAGE AND AT THE OTHER END TO A CROSS PIECE, EACH OF SAIDNARROW ARMS DEFINING A SEGMENT OF AN ANNULUS, THE SUM TOTAL OF SAIDSEGMENTS BEING LESS THAN 180%, A PLUG ON SAID CROSS PIECE AXIALLYALIGNED WITH AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID PASSAGE, AN ELASTOMERIC PLASTICSLIDER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID PASSAGE IN FLUID-TIGHT RELATION THERETO,SAID SLIDER HAVING THERETHROUGH A DISCHARGE CHANNEL ADAPTED TO MATE WITHAND BE CLOSED AT ITS INNER END BY SAID PLUG WHEN SAID SLIDER ISPOSITIONED THEREON, AN ENLARGEMENT ON SAID SLIDER AT THE OUTER ENDTHEREOF TO FACILITATE MOVING IT OUTWARDLY OFF SAID PLUG, AND COOPERATIVEMEANS IN SAID PASSAGE AND ON THE SLIDER TO LIMIT NORMAL OUTWARD MOVEMENTOF THE SLIDER AFTER THE INNER END THEREOF IS SLID CLEAR OF SAID PLUG.